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Caption

Colon cancer. Coloured barium enema X-ray of the human abdomen, showing a cancer (centre) of the colon (tube running from top to lower left). The colon (or large intestine) runs around the abdomen and is one of the final parts of the digestive tract. The cancer is growing in a ring shape round the wall of the colon, leaving a distinctive apple core shape. This is one of the most common cancers in North America and Western Europe. It is thought to be connected with a high fat and low fibre diet. Barium, opaque to X-rays, is used to diagnose disorders of the digestive system. To image the colon and rectum it is administered as an enema.